Jodie Whittaker is Doctor Who's first female lead

Actress will replace Scottish actor Peter Capaldi as 13th Time Lord in long-running science fiction series

British actress Jodie Whittaker, who starred in the TV series Broadchurch, has been cast as the next lead of the long-running science fiction TV series Doctor Who. She's the first woman to take the title role. (Joel Ryan/The Associated Press)

The BBC says Jodie Whittaker is the next star of the long-running science fiction series Doctor Who — the first woman to take the title role.